Little Mister Jim ** (1946, Jackie ‘Butch’ Jenkins, James Craig, Frances Gifford) – Classic Movie Review 11,264

Director Fred Zinnemann’s wafer-thin, scarcely winsome 1946 MGM black and white film Little Mister Jim tells the tale of life on an army post, with Jackie ‘Butch’ Jenkins as the mildly diverting little star playing the brattish Little Mr Jim Tukker. James Craig also stars as his loving father, Captain Big Jim Tukker,

Produced by the appropriately named Orville O Dull, it lays on the treacle all too thickly and is best for those vintage movie buffs with sweet teeth and strong stomachs. There is some cult value and interest as an early apprentice work by director Zinnemann, who directed Jenkins again on his next film, My Brother Talks to Horses (1946).

George Bruce’s screenplay is based on the novel Army Brat by Tommy Wadelton.

Also in the cast are Frances Gifford as Jean Tukker, Luana Patten, Spring Byington, Laura La Plante, Henry O’Neill, Morris Ankrum, Ruth Brady, Celia Travers, Sharon McManus, Buz Buckley, Carol Nugent, and Jean Van.

Perhaps surprisingly, it was a costly flop for MGM, losing $640,000 (the budget was $1,085,000).

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,264

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